We don't know much about what happened to people in crowds who followed Jesus. Many were fed and heard great teaching ... but we do know what happened to individual people.
Our lives might be lived in crowded streets or neighborhoods, but God doesn't see us as a crowd. He sees you. He sees me. It's personal.
That's how discipleship works as well. It's individual. Personal. Often one-on-one.
Look at the time Jesus was in a large house with a crowd. Mark wrote about it at the start of his gospel, in chapter two. Jewish scribes are there, seated. Crowds overwhelemd the place, packed the doorway, stood outside. Everyone craning to hear Jesus even if they couldn't see him..
Four men join the crowd carrying a paralyzed friend on a portable bed. They're trying to get him healed by Jesus. But there's no way. There's no Jesus to bring him to. Crowds are in the way.
The friends climb onto the roof and remove pieces of the roof until there's enough room to lower the man into the house so Jesus can see him.
Jesus says to the man, "Your sins are forgiven." The scribes seated say, "Who are you to say that?" Jesus says in essence, "I'll show you." Jesus heals the man.
The crowds didn't help. They were in the way, but the friends got their friend to Jesus.
Jesus' ministry drew crowds, but He discipled a small group.
Discipling men doesn't happen in a crowd. It happens in small groups.
We need gatherings. We need to belong to local churches. We need evangelists. We need music to lead us into worship. WE MUST GATHER MEN.
We've been commissioned by Jesus to GO MAKE DISCIPLES.
Thinking we need a crowd can get in the way of our thinking ... in fact, it can stop us from action. Jesus built the team of Apostles that rocked the world one man at a time.
Mark doesn't even tell us what happened to that crowd that day. We only know what happened to one man.
What can you do for a friend?
Give him a book. Invite him out for a cup of coffee. Tell him your story. Get a few men together. Start. Don't wait for the crowd ... they're often in the way.
If he's unsaved, invite him to church. That's simple. But don't leave him at the door. Take him all the way. Disciple him.
That's how four friends cared for their friend. And Jesus responded.
That's what you can do for friends you love. Don't let gathering a crowd get in the way of helping one man.
Let's win men to Christ. Let's disciple them. Let's do what Jesus told us to do. Let's do what Jesus did.
